Chapter 7

Hermione regained consciousness to find herself in a bed. She had no recollection of getting there, but was almost surprised to find herself alive. The man with the knife was the last thing she remembered well. That, and Voldemort laughing.

"You're awake," Draco said from beside her.

"Yes." When she spoke her voice sounded very rough. "Water?"

He passed a full glass to her.

"I have to go get Severus. Don't get up, Granger," he said as he left the room.

She heard him go down the stairs. The sound of murmuring could be heard wafting back up the stairs. She could distinguish the voices but not the words.

Hermione took a sip of water and tried to put the glass back on the table, but the movement sent waves of pain through her.

"Here," Snape said, striding across the room. He took the glass from her hands and placed it next to the bed.

"I gather there is still pain?"

Hermione nodded cautiously.

"Where? Be as specific as possible."

After a moment's pause, she answered, "Both sides, my left shoulder, my neck, the back of my head, and my right heel."

"Thank you, Miss Granger. Those places were particularly damaged. I will fetch a potion for the pain, then we'll look into why those areas are still bothering you to such a degree."

"Professor, how long have I been asleep?"

"Nine days."

She gasped then cringed.

"Try not to move; I will return."

"Has it really been nine days?" she asked Draco after Snape had left the room.

"Yes. We didn't know if you were going to live through the first three. My father and his 'friends' got overzealous toward the end."

"I'm glad I can't remember it," she stated, shaking her head.

"The Dark Lord wants you back with him in a week."

Hermione looked at him. "Why do you call him that?"

"The Dark Lord? Because I have to."

Hermione's brow furrowed as she tried to figure out his words. She didn't get a chance to comment because Severus came back at that moment.

"Take this. It should dull the pain." He handed a vial of blue potion to her.

"Thank you, sir."

She took the potion and drank it quickly.

"Now, Miss Granger, the Dark Lord wants you healthy in a week for another night of fun. I doubt your body will be able to handle it by then. I'm going to try to tell him that you won't survive another night like that, but that you are willing to give him information in return for his mercy."

"I won't tell him anything to hurt Harry. I couldn't do that."

"I didn't say the information would be truthful. I simply said you would give him information."

Hermione looked up at him. "All right then, what do you suggest I tell him?"

"We will discuss that on another day. Do you agree with this course of action?" he asked, looking at her intently.

"Yes..."

"Good, I have to go inform the Dark Lord of your condition. Draco will stay with you," Severus said as he stood. After a quick look at Draco and a nod to her, he walked out of the room.

Over the next week, Hermione divided her time between rehabilitation and learning to lie convincingly. She was decent at it, but her conscience kept trying to interfere.

She still didn't know what to make of Severus Snape. He seemed sincere enough when he was teaching her or helping her recover, but when he got in front of Voldemort he was a completely different person. The switch in personality was always instantaneous and dramatic.

Hermione couldn't fathom how he could keep his personalities separate to such a degree. He was always sarcastic, and more than not, he was harsh, but he was never cruel unless Voldemort was present. Draco had even stopped calling her Mudblood. In return, she started calling him Draco on occasion outside of her thoughts.

"Well, what do you expect? She's a Gryffindor."

"Draco, you were no better when you first started training," Severus replied, glancing at Draco.

She was waiting patiently for Severus and Draco to stop discussing her. They did this fairly often. Something would trigger a discussion, normally her inability to lie, and they would talk about her without acknowledging her presence in the room.

Hermione sighed. "Will you please stop it? I am sitting right here. You could actually talk to me about my problems with lying."

Her words seemed to make them realize she was in the room. Snape raised an eyebrow, and Draco tried to look indifferent.

"Well then, Miss Granger, what do you suggest we do about your inability to keep up a convincing lie?"

"Isn't there a saying that the best lies are based on truth? Instead of having me fabricate something, why don't I make something inconsequential into a big deal?" Hermione asked.

"What do you have in mind?" Severus asked.

"Harry hates his fame. What if I tell Voldemort that Harry's starting to become overconfident? We both know that isn't the case, but if Voldemort thinks he can easily take him...?"

"That is a sound idea. The only problem I see from that is the Dark Lord may choose to strike sooner rather than later. Potter has been training, but all of the Horcruxes have yet to be destroyed. A confrontation now would not be prudent."

"Does Voldemort hold much stock in tradition?"

"That depends."

"What if we play the angle that he's always attacked at the end of the school year. There is no reason to change that now. He's always been marginally successful in his attacks at those times. If we remind him of that bit and try to keep him from attacking too soon, we may be successful," Hermione tried to explain.

"That sounds acceptable," Severus said with a nod.

"Good evening, pet," Voldemort hissed in greeting.

Hermione stood tall, looking at the ground while Severus held her hands behind her back.

"Release her, Severus."

"Yes, my Lord."

Hermione didn't like the look in Severus's eyes, not at all.

His grip tightened on her wrists, and before she knew what was going on, he had thrown her on the ground before Voldemort's feet. She had to fight back the emotions welling in her. The pain was stronger from his action than the actual fall.

"Oh, dear, Severus. My pet seems to have grown attached to you."

'Damn!' she thought, quickly calling the field into her mind.

"My Lord?" Snape inquired.

"She was taken aback by your treatment of her just then. It seems she has friendly feelings toward you."

Severus simply stood there, looking at her with disdain.

"This displeases you, Severus?"

"Yes, my Lord, I wouldn't think to sully myself with a Mudblood," Snape sneered.

Hermione was submerged in her Occlumency shield, so she effectively hid her reaction to his words.

"Even in the name of fun? Well, we shall see." Voldemort turned his attention back to Hermione.

"What information do you have for me, pet?"

Hermione hesitated until she felt someone kick her. "Speak, Mudblood." Snape's cool voice entered her thoughts.

"Harry will be most vulnerable at the end of the school year," she said, sounding reluctant to speak.

"And why is that?"

"He will be unprepared for your attack. He will think he's ready, but his arrogance will get the better of him."

"So the fool thinks he will be ready to defeat me? Perfect." Voldemort turned his attention to Snape. "Come here, Severus. We shall call a full meeting."

"My Lord, I beg your leave after you've called the others. I must get this piece of filth back. She cannot stand any more fun for a while," Snape said with regret.

"You dare to take my pet from me?"

"No, Master. I don't want the others to think they will get to play when that is out of the question."

Voldemort narrowed his eyes at Snape. "Do not speak against me again, Severus."

He grabbed Snape's arm and pulled the sleeve back, revealing the Dark Mark. A touch of his finger, and the Mark flared black. Snape hissed in pain.

"Take the girl and get out of my sight."

Author's Notes: GinnyW and snarkyroxy deserve many thanks for their beta work. Thank you, ladies!

Please leave me a note telling me what you like or what didn't work. Any feedback is appreciated.